Trasfer files to Ipod Touch wirelessly
Posted in Gadgets, How To, iPod | By AhTim @ January 3rd, 2008
If you are an Ipod Touch user like me, I am sure you noticed that there is no way to transfer files from your computer to Ipod Touch or vice versa manually. It is not like PDA, it come without software cd because Ipod Touch utilise the syncronization tool via iTunes. This mean you have to use iTunes to syncronize music, movie and photo. Futher more, Ipod Touch is not running MAC OS, Windows, nor Linux, it is running on BSD subsystem or so called Unix operating system, that is the reason why we do not have driver for it!
As for me, I would like to use my Ipod Touch for more than that. I want to use my Ipod Touch as a backup drive since it has 16GB 
How to transfer files to Ipod Touch wirelessly?
Since Ipod Touch come with wifi (802.11b/g), we have to fully utilize it. Through out this tutorial, I will show you how you can transfer your files to and from Ipod Touch via wireless!
On your Computer
First, of course your computer must have a usb wifi adapter just like my TEW-424UB. Plug into your computer and install it’s driver. After install driver, go to the Wireless Connection properties, click on Wireless Network tab and add in Preferred Network. Click on Add, there are 3 important things to do here:
1. Put in your own SSID name that you like
2. Uncheck “the key is provided for me automatically” and put in your own “Network Key”. At least 5 character.
3. Tick the bottom option “This is a computer-to-computer (adhoc)
After that, click on OK return to the Wireless Network connection properties page. Click on General tab and double click on Internet Protocol. Put in the IP address and Subnet Mask as screenshot below.
On your Ipod Touch
Tap on Settings, you should see your SSID (eg: AhTim) that you have set above. Tap on the blue arrow (>) button next to your wifi name. Tap on Static and put in the IP address and Subnet Mask as screenshot below. After that, go back to the previous screen and tap on your SSID to establish wireless connection to your computer. If it connected successfully, your should see a tick on your SSID.
Once connected, let’s try to test the connection. Tap on your Term-vt100 (Unix command line), key in “ping 10.0.0.1” and press Return. You should the reply from your computer as screenshot below. This means your Ipod Touch is communicating with your computer successfully!
GUI Tools for data transfer
Once the wireless connection has been established, there are few methods to transfer your data to and from Ipod Touch. Since Ipod Touch is running on BSD subsystem, the original way should be via SSH or SFTP (command line). But since I am more comfortable with GUI tool to ease my task, I would like to recommend WinSCP as your data transfer tool.
Download WinSCP if you still have not do so. After installation, launch WinSCP and start login to your Ipod Touch. You need to put in Ipod Touch IP address, default username (root) and default password (alpine) as below. After login, you should see your local disks on left panel, Ipod Touch drive on right panel. That’s it! Start transfer data and have fun with this wireless USB drive !
My two cents
I have a lot of fun after the experiment above. Now I can transfer data to my Ipod Touch easily without open up iTunes. Further more, I can backup files to Ipod not only music, movie and photo but also others file format. How about you? Why don’t try it as your small project?
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Tags: ipod touch wireless, transfer data, transfer files, winscp, wireless ipod drive
February 13th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Hi! I use WinSCP when I’m home and I think it’s great!
But when I’m at work I use different pc’s and I cannot install WinSCP (only admin can) . So therefore I use http://www.loelink.com
It’s a online version of WinSCP. It does the same. Really a handy tool!
February 17th, 2008 at 6:48 am
This is a great tutorial and it was just what I was looking
for. Most tutorials do this via the internet not local network
(i.e. ad hoc).
Keep up the good work.
Big Dom U.K
February 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
@FanatiPhone: Thanks for the tips. The online tool works! But abit slow…
@Big Dom: This is really a convenient method for iTouch owner. How fast is the speed via wireless ?
February 21st, 2008 at 4:32 am
@Big Dom: This is really a convenient method for iTouch owner. How fast is the speed via wireless ?
My Reply…
On a local wifi network (adhoc )as you described in your tutorial.
It’s very very fast.. (I was very impressed). Thank You.
Big Dom U.K
March 27th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
[...] PC Computer 1. Of course, you need to have an USB Wifi adapter and establish wifi connection between your computer and iPod Touch or [...]
April 28th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Tim,
Thanks for this great advice and all the other stuff you write. Lots of great pointers and ideas. You are much appreciated!
Matt
April 29th, 2008 at 12:35 am
@Matt: You’re most welcome to come back for latest updates. BTW, have you success in this small project?
May 4th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Can you please help me do this same thing but with my Mac? I think I can figure out how to get them talking together, but is there a Mac GUI out there I can use to manage the files? thanks
May 5th, 2008 at 11:30 am
@kangarool: you can try out FUGU for MAC OS.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
[...] SSH your ipod and go to Applications folder in iPod touch or [...]
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Hi,
I am trying your tutorial and getting a Connection Refused message. I am using the username root and password, alpine. Are they standard on all IPOD touch? Your assistance is appreciated.
thanks,
Danny
July 25th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
@Danny: Yes, it is standard password for all iPod touch, unless you have modified the password yourself.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
will it work with a regualar router… kus i can already access my internet from my computer… in other words do i still need the wifi adapter? lol
Great step by step, thanks,
Stow
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
o p.s. i use cuteftp pro that should work right? :S hehe
Cheers
October 20th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I have a gen 2 and have tried this but no luck. I was also wondering about the default password and login. I get a network error timeout. Also, when I set up my laptop’s wireless and put in the settings, it says that the connection is successful. I also get the icon on my touch and a tick mark. Any suggestions?
Brian
December 22nd, 2008 at 9:06 am
hi…thnks alot for the tutorial… but i have the same problem as brian mentioned above..mine is gen 2 touch ipod..iam not able to login..network timeout.. is it because i didnt jail break my device???…pls help!!!
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
@wonderingsoul: You need to install SSH server on your iPod touch. Of course need jailbreak first.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hi jw whats the file directory where i put movies? Bcoz i knpw that there is a file thAt i can dl from cydia that will alow me to play most vid files.. Cheers
February 4th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
@Ed: Depend on your App. Normally put under directory /Library/Downloads
April 12th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I followed the tutorial and used the password and user name specified and everything shows as being connected but i still get connection refused message.
April 14th, 2009 at 9:26 am
JR: At first, your iPod must have OpenSSH server.
May 1st, 2009 at 7:09 am
Is there any way to put music on the ipod using ssh bcuz I don’t have my USB cord
May 1st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
@iChris: Yes you can, but you need 3rd party app such as dTunes.
August 24th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
my bro won an ipod lately and still learning to use.
December 19th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Reply to Stow’s qestion7:
http://ahtim.com/trasfer-files-to-ipod-touch-wirelessly/#comment-1584
My PC is a LAN card, and is connected to a wireless router where i can access the internet from there.
My Ipod touch also is connected to the wireless router.
I successfully connected WinSCP to the ipod touch, but when doing the file transfer is very very very slow. Said a 50kb takes more than 20mins to tranfer still not finished. I cancel the tranfer.
So my question is can wireless file transfer works faster between WinSCP and ipod touch? Did i miss any special settings?
January 17th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
There is a slight misunderstanding expressed in the article – the ipod is running an adapted version of OS X. OS X itself is based on BSD. This is not related to anything such as a missing driver problem – Apple simply does not allow users to sync their ipod except using iTunes.